Conjuring Voodoo Spirits in New Orleans

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I don’t know how I made it to the ripe old age of 32 before my first Voodoo conjuring, but Tales of the Cocktail this year finally broke my streak.  Though, I have dabbled in some light Voodoo related vandalism, back when that was allowed at Marie Laveau’s grave in the St. Louis I cemetery in New Orleans (now guests are only allowed on guided tours, and writing on the graves is strongly discouraged).

Practicing a little Voodo at Marie Laveau's grave in New Orleans

Tales of the Cocktail is a yearly gathering of liquor brands, bartenders, and cocktail enthusiast in New Orleans.  This was my 3rd year attending, but the first time I participated in their Spirited Dinner series.

The Spirited Dinners range in price and experience, but this particular dinner costs around $70 per head was comprised of small plates paired with creative cocktails, and of course some Voodoo entertainment. I don’t know what took me so long, I love a good spirit pun and the 11th Hour Conjuring Spirited Dinner at one of my New Orleans Favorites, Napoleon House, delivered. Booze, Spirit Puns, Voodoo, and Napoleon House? Sold!

Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Dinner at Napoleon House in New Orleans

 

We started the night off with a welcome cocktail, the Brains & Beauty (Hendrick’s Gin, Apricot Liquer, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Apple Bitters, and Champagne), before moving on to the food and drink pairings inspired by the spirits we would be conjuring; Legba, Marie Laveau, and Freda.

Now for the actual conjuring!  Our Vodou (her spelling) Priestess for the evening, Sallie Ann Glassman made cornmeal designs freehand on the floor, accompanied by La Source Ancienne Ounfo on drums and vocals.  Each spirit has a different design made of cornmeal and different song or chant used to summon them along with a ritual where the Priestess and singer poured small amounts of water on the centuries old wood floor that made me a bit nervous, but I’m sure  throughout history the floors have seen worse.

11th hour conjuring Spirited dinner at Napoleon House in New Orleans for Tales fo the Cocktail 2018

Papa Legba is a gate keeper between the human world and the spirit realm, so he must be summoned first before the rest of the spirits can come through.  Papa Legba is a Haitian fellow with a penchant for rum and loose change.  So to represent him in food and cocktail form, we were served Hatian pikliz and fried plantains with A Noble Metal cocktail (Flor de cana extra dry, passion fruit puree, pineapple puree, and lemon juice) served in a glass covered in copper leaf.  This was my favorite cocktail, but that copper leaf got everywhere and maybe shouldn’t be consumed by humans, but what do I know?

A noble metal cocktail at the 11th hour conjuring spirited dinner at Napoleon House in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail 2018

Next we conjured the most famous New Orleans Voodoo queen of all, Marie Laveau.  Marie Laveau needs no introduction, but I was excited to meet her in spirit.  Marie doesn’t have an established cornmeal drawing, but our Voodoo priestess designed one for her based on her initials.  The Marie Laveau course was my favorite, a fantastic creole gumbo and chicken wing paired with a Black Cat’s Tooth cocktail (Flor de Cana 7 year, Lustau Px sherry, sweet vermouth, Bittermans elemekule bitters, saline solution, Montelobos mezcal rinse, and lime zest)

11th hour conjuring Spirited dinner at Napoleon House in New Orleans for Tales fo the Cocktail 2018

The third and final course and spirit was Freda, a feminine spirit who loves pink, men, dancing, and sweets, but has a jealous tendency towards other women (she’s not very woke).  In honor of Freda’s love of sweets, she was given the dessert course; lemon petit four glace with the Lay Lady Lay… cocktail (Flor de Cana 12 year, cactus puree, lemon juice, whole milk, sugar, and hibiscus tea).

The 3 cornmeal drawings were left on the floor for patrons to examine and they are certainly impressive.

11th hour conjuring Spirited dinner at Napoleon House in New Orleans for Tales fo the Cocktail 2018

Now, the question on everyone’s mind (or at least mine before I went), how much weird shit happened?  Answer; kind of none.  Full disclosure, I didn’t really know a lot about Voodoo as a religion and was hoping for some disembodied voices and ghosty noises, knocks in on the floor, etc.  That didn’t happen.  We were told to focus on the energy shift in the room, which I didn’t totally get, but it was pretty crowded in there already and I had been drinking all day.  Still, the Voodoo rituals were fascinating.

I did go home with a Voodoo doll handmade by Priestess Sallie Ann, inspired by our friend Freda and now my refrigerator is making weird noises… coincidence?  You tell me.

11th hour conjuring Spirited dinner at Napoleon House in New Orleans for Tales fo the Cocktail 2018

*I attended Tales of the Cocktail on a complimentary media pass, but I paid full price for this Spirited Dinner experience and all opinions are entirely my own.*


10 thoughts on “Conjuring Voodoo Spirits in New Orleans

  1. Rio

    Sounds like an amazing experience. I was watching a new documentary on Netflix on “Dark Tourism” which featured New Orleans. They were looking into the vampire culture there which was really fascinating. It seems like there’s much more to New Orleans than I originally thought.

    • Mags

      I LOVE Dark Tourist! I just watch the one on New Orleans Vampires last week. I haven’t dabbled in Vampire culture yet, but New Orleans certainly has plenty of secrets!

  2. Was just in New Orleans this summer, really enjoyed touring the cemeteries. New Orleans has such a great mystical spirit to the whole town, I just love it. Thanks for a great article!

    • Mags

      New Orleans is hands down my favorite city in the USA. I never get tired of it.

  3. Marcos

    This place gives me the creeps and I love it. Did you recently go? How is the development coming along after the storm?

    • Mags

      This event was back in July. New Orleans is still going strong! There are certainly still reminders of Katrina, but you can’t keep this city down!

  4. I have always wanted to visit New Orleans. Such a great experience to witness ancient vodoo rituals but what an anti-climax with no otherworldly experiences except a shift in energy. Maybe it’s for the better!

    • Mags

      Oh certainly, I probably would have cried if something scary happened lol.

  5. sound great, i think it was great day you guys. really happy to see this amazing post.

  6. I love New Orleans as it still has its roots to voodoo but I specify on Palo Mayombe

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